Agassi, Graf to team up for Boise charity eventPair will play mixed doubles Dec. 3 at Taco Bell Arena

Nick Jezierny

The Idaho Statesman | Edition Date: 10-08-2005

Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf are coming to Boise to play tennis together, and they are bringing along other big names to participate in their Rock-n-Racquets fund-raiser.

The Dec. 3 event at Taco Bell Arena will be a tennis exhibition set to music. Event promoters say it's the first time that Agassi and Graf, who are married, will team up and play a mixed doubles match.

Agassi (eight Grand Slam titles) and Graf (22) are two of the biggest names in professional tennis.

Also playing in the event that raises funds for The Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation are Bob and Mike Bryan, the world's top-ranked doubles team, and James Blake, one of the top American players on the ATP Tour.

Tickets for the event go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday and will range in price from $15 to $85, with discounts available for families, students, groups and USTA members. They are available at the Taco Bell Arena box office, Select-A-Seat outlets, www.idahotickets.com, or by calling 426-1766.

• A mixed-doubles match that will feature Agassi and Graf against yet-to-be determined opponents.

• A men's doubles match pitting Agassi and Blake against the Bryans, who won the U.S. Open in men's doubles earlier this year.

• A singles match between Agassi and Blake.

Agassi and Blake played a memorable five-set quarterfinal match in this year's U.S. Open, with Agassi winning 3-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 (6). The match didn't end until after 1 a.m. EDT.

"At 1:15 in the morning for 20,000 people to still be here, I wasn't the winner, tennis was," Agassi told the crowd after the match. "I don't know if I've ever felt this good here before."

Blake said he's looking forward to a rematch.

"I am excited to be a part of such an elite group of athletes," Blake said in a statement. "Andre and I had such a memorable match at the U.S. Open, and it will be great to play with him once again in Idaho. This will be fun."

This is the second time Agassi is making news in Idaho. In August, he announced his company, Agassi Enterprises of Las Vegas, is part of a development group planning to build a 300,000-square-foot, 175-room hotel at Tamarack Resort in Donnelly.

Tamarack Resort is the title sponsor of the Rock-n-Racquets event in Boise.

"On the heels of our new partnership with Tamarack Resort, we felt that the people of Boise would really embrace Rock-n-Racquets," Agassi said in a statement. "Our intention is to bring this unique event to a market that typically has not had the opportunity to see professional tennis at a whole new level."
___________________________________ Andre Agassi forever

Andre Agassi and James Blake rocked Arthur Ashe Stadium in a classic quarterfinal that was the most memorable match of the 2005 U.S. Open. In December, the two friends will renew their rivalry on court again for a cause — after Agassi and wife Steffi Graf make their mixed doubles debut together.

Agassi will partner with the Hall of Famer he knows well — Graf — and Agassi and Blake will join forces to take on the Bryan Brothers in the Tamarack Resort's Rock-n-Racquets at Taco Bell Arena at Boise State University in Boise, Idaho on Saturday, December 3rd.

"Similar to our success in other cities, our intention is to bring this unique event to a market that typically has not had the opportunity to see professional tennis at a whole new level," Agassi said. "On the heels of our new partnership with Tamarack Resort, we felt the people of Boise would really embrace Rock-n-Racquets and we couldn't be more pleased with the overwhelming support displayed to date. Steffi and I are looking forward to returning to Idaho."

The format features three matches: Agassi and Blake will share the court in taking on 2005 U.S. Open champions Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan in a doubles match; Agassi and Graf will make their mixed doubles debut together against Blake and a partner to be determined before Agassi and Blake rekindle the fire of their classic U.S. Open quarterfinal that brought fans to their feet in Arthur Ashe Stadium as the Americans battled into a dramatic fifth-set tiebreak. Gates open at 6 p.m. on Saturday, December 3rd with play scheduled to start at 7 p.m.

"I am excited to be part of such an elite group of players," Blake said. "Andre and I had such a memorable match at the U.S. Open and it will be great to play with him once again in Idaho. This will be fun."

Rock-n-Racquets is an annual fundraising tennis exhibition that benefits the Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation. Tickets go on sale Friday, October 14th at 10 a.m. MST and will be priced from $15 to $85. Family packages and BSU student, group and USTA discounts will be available. For tickets, please visit www.idahotickets.com or phone (208) 426-1766. For more information, please visit www.rocknracquets.com.
___________________________________ Andre Agassi forever

We have already purchased our tickets for the December 2 Genworth charity event in Richmond, VA...we will see Steffi and Andre and Roddick and Anna Kournikova play doubles and Roddick and Andre a singles match...

From the sounds of things, they will hop on a plane right after the Richmond event and head to Idaho...that's how they used to do tennis in the "good ole days", I hear...one nighters...only these are for charity!!!

I too have tickets for the Richmond event. When I saw the Boise press release my first thought was "they must have a great private jet."

I've bought tickets twice for events that Graf was supposed to play and then pulled out at the 11th hour because of injury. I really hope this one pans out.

We're in section 7, row E...stop by and say hello if you get a chance...and I, too, will be disappointed if Steffi doesn't come...we saw Andre play WTT in Philly last year...and saw Roddick in person the year before at WTT...but I have never seen Steffi in person...and my husband is looking forward to seein Anna K. What can I say!! Men!!

You lucky people - seeing Andre + Steffi play in mixed doubles! I was so disappointed that it never happened in Wimbledon a few years back (I think she became pregnant with their 2nd child if I remember rightly). Enjoy!

Thanks to you guys, I got tickets to the Richmond charity event as well. I wouldnt have known about it if I hadn't read these boards because I don't live in Richmond but it's a close enough drive that me and three of my friends are driving up there for the weekend to see Andre and Andy! It should be great fun!

I'm a huge Andre fan and have seen him play in two tournaments....Cincinnati and DC. I'm just glad I'll get to see him play again before he retires even if it's not a competitive match.

Thanks to you guys, I got tickets to the Richmond charity event as well. I wouldnt have known about it if I hadn't read these boards because I don't live in Richmond but it's a close enough drive that me and three of my friends are driving up there for the weekend to see Andre and Andy! It should be great fun!

I'm a huge Andre fan and have seen him play in two tournaments....Cincinnati and DC. I'm just glad I'll get to see him play again before he retires even if it's not a competitive match.

That's awesome! Have fun!

Last of the moon-and-volley specialists.

I believe in luck. How else can you explain the success of those you don't like? ---Jean Cocteau

Do these press agents know something we don't? Why is the Boise event still advertising themselves as "the first time" Andre and Steffi will play together when the Richmond event is the day before. I know their advertisers like that, but the ATP newsletter just printed the same thing.